Improved machine for rolling metals



w. H. AWARD. l Machine for Rolling .MetaL- No. 103,397. Patented May 24,1870.

R i r Il W' Y V, e li ICE.

WILLIAM H. WARD, OF AUBURN, NEIV YORK.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR ROLLING METALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 103,397, dated May 24,1870 antedated May 14, 1870.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. WARD, of Auburn, in the county of Cayugaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Feeding and Registering Rolling- Mills, for rolling axles,horseshoes, and other articles; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,which make part of this specification, and in which-Figurelrepresents an elevation of amachine embracing my improvements,with the gearwheels of the upper and lower rotary dies removed. Fig. 2represents a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse sectionthrough one pair of the rolling-dies, with their feeding and deliveringrolls. Fig. 5 represents a side and edge view of one of the adjustablefeed -lever lifters. Fig. 6 represents a portion of one of the rotarydies, showing the cut-off in the cavity thereof. Fig. 7 represents viewsof the adjustable stop, arranged in the groove of the die-roll. Fig. 8represents an elevation of a pillow-block lock.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents the bed-plate; B, the sidepieces or nprights of the frame, and D the tie-cap or pillow-block lockwhich constitutes the frame of the machine. 'Ihe standards of the frameare provided with vertical `openings to receive the division-stanchionse,between which the bearing-blocks d, forthe journals of the rotarydieshafts H, are secured. The. rotary dies I are arranged upon threehorizontal parallel shafts, H, consisting of an intermediate, an upper,and a lower one. The intermediate shaft is provided with two or moredie-rolls, I, while the upper and lower ones are provided with a singledie-roll on opposite ends, excepting when more than two die-rolls are onthe intermediate shaft; then these upper and lower shafts will requirecorresponding additional ones, so as to match in pairs with the rolls ofthe intermediate shaft in such a manner as will constitute pairs of dierolls upon the shafts, applicable for rotary compress rolling anyarticle they may be constructed to produce.

The die-rolls thus arranged are of suiiicient size to have formed upontheir circumferences a number of cavities, fv, sunk or cut therein, ofdifferent sizes and forms. rIhe central one is considered the mostsuitable for the larger or bloom cavity, while the outer ones are moreconvenient for the different decreasing sizes.

The rollers are so adjusted that the dies of each pair will exactlycoincide, as represented in Fig. 3.

The cavities o of each pair of rolls must, of course, be the exact,shape of those of the other, and they are provided withseparatingcutters z, Fig. 2, to cut off the articles under formation atthe proper length.

Each end of the several shafts II projects beyond the frame, and isfitted with a gearwheel, J, of uniform diameter, and matching one withinthe other, so as to impart to the die-rolls I an equal and uniformspeed.

The die-rolls, arranged as before described, form duplicate and distinctsets, and enable the machine to have two operating or feeding frontsides, and as many delivering-sidesthat is to say, a receiving and adelivering side alike on opposite sides; because it will be seen thatone pair of die-rolls turn in one direction on one side of the machineto receive the article to be formed, and in the opposite direction onthe other side of the machine, thus constituting a double front.

In carrying out my invention, I arrange a feeding-table, F, upon alevel, or thereabout, with the upper periphery of the intermediatedie-rolls I, as represented in Fig. 4, on one side of the machine, and adelivering-table, G, on the same horizontal plane therewith, at theopposite side of the machine, and beneath this delivering-table G, Iarrange another feeding-table, F, on a level, or thereabout, with theupper periphery of the lower die-rolls, and on the opposite side of themachine is placed a delivering-table, Gr, on the same horizontal planetherewith, beneath the feeding-table first described. Thesefeeding-tables consist of horizontal side plates, F, bolted or otherwisesecured to the upright side pieces, I3, of the frame, extending parallelto each other therefrom, and united at their outer ends by a crossbar,s. Between these side pieces I arrange a series of groovedfeeding-rolls, m, secured upon horizontal shafts i, mounted in bearingsin the table-frame parallel to the axis of the die-rolls, in such manneras that their grooves will be exactly in a line, both horizontally andvertically, with the cavities of said die-rolls, as represented in Figs.2, 3, and 4. One set of these grooved feeding-rolls m is arrangedadjacent to the die-rolls I, while between them and the other set isarranged a set of grooved supporting-rolls, 7c, and another groovedsupporting-roll is arranged on the front side of the outer set offeeding-rolls, m.

The supporting-rolls, having no motion except that imparted to them bythe bar which is being operated on, aid in preventing said bar frombeing fed forward by the said feedrolls with force enough to lift thestop-rolls before the proper time. The grooves of these supporting-rollsk are arranged in the same vertical line with the grooves of thefeedingrolls m, with their upper sides in the same horizontal plane asthe grooves of said feeding-rolls, and they form intermediate supportsto the bar while being carried forward by the feeding-rolls m. rIhefeeding-rolls rotate continuously, and tend continuously to carry theblank forward to the die-rolls, irrespective of any particular point atwhich it should be received by the dies. To counteract this, and topermit the bar to be projected between the rolls at the proper timeonly, I arrange, in connection with the inner series of the feedrolls m,grooved stop-wheels n, mounted upon the inner ends of hinged arms N, sothat there will be one stop-wheel to each inner feed-roll resting uponthe upper periphery of the said inner feed roll, which arrests theforward movement of the blank upon the feed-table. These arms N arehinged at their outer ends to a common axis, r, secured in studs p uponthe outer cross-bar of the feeding-table F, while their inner ends areinclined downward from the axis q of the stop-wheels n, and the twoouter arms embrace the sides of one of the intermediate die-rolls, asshown in Fig. 2, and the inclined end N of the intermedia-te arm extendsto the periphery of said die-roll, as shown in Fig. 4. These arms N,with their stop-rolls, may be made to act from beneath the feed-table Fby an upright coming up between the first feed and supporting roll fromthe rotary die, whereby the feed-table will be less encumhered, enablingthe attendants to work with more freedom; but, in the present instance,they receive the action of liftingplates y, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, madeadjustable upon the die-rolls I with reference to the cavities therein,causing the ends of the said arms to lift at the proper moment, andallowing the blank to pass under the stop-wheels n and be received intothe cavities 'v of the rotary compress forming-dies. These lifting-armsand stop-wheels thus constitute a series of automatic adjuncts tofeed-rolls, operated by the die-rolls, and are applicable to die-rollsfor rolling almost any standard article in general use, such as wagonand railway axles, harrowteeth, horseshoes, hexagon-headed bolts, Ste.

The rotation of the feed-rolls is, as has already been said, constant;but, after carrying the bar forward until the end of it strikes againstthe stop-wheel, they are powerless to carry it farther until thestop-wheel shall have been removed from its path; and their velocity ismuch greater than that of the die-rolls, in order that they may, themoment the stopwheel is removed, suddenly and rapidly thrust the barforwardv and cause it to overtake and abut against a stop, x, locatedwithin the cavities c of one of the die-rolls ofeach pair, which f stopis made adjustable by means of a slot and set-screw, for the purpose ofsetting it in proper relation to the lifting-plates y, or equivalentdevices, and, consequently, to the time of the forward thrust impartedto the bar by the feed-rolls on the removal ofthe stop-wheel.

The lifting-plates y are also made adjustable, and for the same purpose.Thus in a twofold manner I am enabled to regulate the several movementsdescribed, and to insure the deposition of the bar in the place designedfor it in the die-groove with absolute certainty.

Theaxis of each feeding-roll m of the feeding-table is provided with atoothed wheel, o, ofthe exact diameter of the feeding-rolls, and theyare connected together by means of a chain, M, Figs. l and 2, (or mitergearing may be substituted for the chain, if desirable,) so that theirmotion is uniform, and that of the feedwheels rendered positive at thesame speed. These feeding-rolls receive their motion from thedriving-gear wheel of the intermediate rotary dies I by means of apinion, L, on the projecting end of the shaft of the inner series offeed-rolls, m, which matches with a pinion, L', of equal diameter, whichin turn matches with the drivin g-gear wheel of the said intermediaterotary die.

The feeding-rolls m of the lower feedingtable, F, receive their motionfrom the gearwheel J of the lower die-roll by means of pinions similarto those just described; and, as the central gear-wheel is the driver,it is obvious that the several rotary dies receive motion from saiddriver in a fixed relationship as to speed with the feed-rolls.

In order that any irregularity in the working of the toothed cog or gearwheels J of the mill may with still greater certainty be prevented, aswell as all backlash in their motion avoided, so that the dies I mayrevolve with a steady and exact motion to bring the several parts oftheir forming-cavities t in opposition to one another with an absolutedegree of exactness, I prefer to employ gear-wheels of peculiarconstruction, having their hubs and arms fixed permanently to the shaftsH of the rotary dies I, while their toothed rims are made adjustablethereon by means of adjusting-screws, for the purpose of compensatingfor the wear of the teeth by adjusting the rims of each wheel, so as totake up any wear or looseness between their teeth, and effectuallyprevent any lost motion or backlash; and, as these adjustable wheels Jare placed upon the opposite ends of the rotary die-shafts H, it isobvious that this adjustment can be accomplished so as to maintain aconstant, steady, and regula-r motion of the dies I, that when the motoris started all the gear-wheels respond to it in pelfect unison; but asthis invention is the subject of a separate application for a patent, afurther description of it here is deemed unnecessary.

The delivering-table G consists of a series of rolls, l, arrangedparallel with the axes of the rotary dies upon which the blank isreceived after its passage through the dies in a position above thefeeding-table of the lower pair of dies, so that the blank can beconveniently taken from the delivering-table and placed again upon thefeeding-table below it.

The feeding-table F of the lower pair or rotary dies is of the sameconstruction and arrangement of feed-rolls, supporting-rolls,stopwheels, and hinged arms as that of the feeding-table firstdescribed, and is likewise provided on the opposite side of thedie-rolls with a series of delivering-rolls, l, from which the articlebeing formed is conveniently taken and placed again upon the firstfeed-table, to be passed through the die-rolls a second time, therebyconstituting a double machine, with only two pairs of rolls, through onepair of which the article being formed passes to attendant No. 2, whocauses it to pass back, through the lower pair of dies in another andstill smaller cavity, to attendant N o. l, so as to give it anotherpressure, and remove any n or joint imperfections, who then passes itback, through another and still smaller cavity, to attendant No. 2, andso on until the article is completed in the most perfect mannerpossible.

The die-cavities c are provided with cutters z, so as to cut off thesurplus length of the article being formed as each decreasing cavityshall elongate it.

Instead of the adjustable stop x of the diecavities, one of the wallsthereof may constitute themstop, if desired.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The method herein described ofinsuring the deposition of the bar or blank in its proper place in thedie-groove-that is to say, carrying the blank forward on feed-rollscontinuously revolving at a speed greater than that of the die-rolls,temporarily arresting the forward movement of said blank by a stopinterposed in its path, and securing the second forward movement of theblank up to and against a stop in the die-groove by the feed-rolls, invirtue of their superior velocity, and by adjustments of the mechanismso as to regulate and co-ordinate the times of arrest and of movements,all substantially as described.

2. rllhe combination of the automatic stopwheels n with thefeeding-rolls m and dierolls, substantially as before described.

3. The combination of the hinged arm N, and the automatic stop-wheels a,connected thereto, with the feeding-rolls m and adjustablelifting-plates 1, arranged directly upon the die-rolls, substantially asbefore described.

4. A feeding table composed of grooved rolls arranged parallel to theaxis of the dierolls, in combination with said die-rolls and with theautomatic stop-wheels a and feedingrolls m, substantially as beforedescribed.

5. The arrangement of the die-rolls Iin sections, by placing two upon acentral shaft and one upon the opposite ends of an upper and a lowershaft, and each receiving a positive motion from its gear-wheel, so asto match in pairs, as hereinbefore described.

W. H. WARD.

Witnesses J. N. STARIN, Trios. TOWNE.

